Tommy Brennan
Tommy Brennan MBE (20 August 1932 – 27 January 2022) was a Scottish trade unionist and political activist. A member of the Labour Party,[1] Brennan was widely known for being the convenor of shop stewards at Ravenscraig steelworks. He led the fight to save the Scottish steel industry in the 1980s and 1990s,[2] until he was made redundant in 1991, shortly before Ravenscraig's infamous closure.[3] He worked at the plant for a total of 31 years.[4][5]
Brennan was born in Carfin, Lanarkshire on 20 August 1932, as the middle of three brothers.[6] He received an MBE in the 1991 New Year Honours.[7][8]
When asked in 2013 to comment on the death of Margaret Thatcher, who had been accused of betraying steel workers in government,[9] Brennan said: "I have a simple philosophy in life that if you look at every bad situation you may find a little plus there. The one plus I could find about Thatcher was that she brought salmon back to the Clyde – she closed all the industry on either side of it so they couldn't pollute it."[10]
Brennan latterly re-emerged as a proponent of Scottish independence, ahead of the country's referendum.[11]
Brennan died on 27 January 2022, at the age of 89.[6]
References
[edit]- ^ "20th anniversary of Ravenscraig closure". Scottish National Party. 26 June 2012. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
- ^ "Election news in brief: SNP wins over two key supporters". The Scotsman. 21 April 2011. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
- ^ Brennan, Tommy (7 August 2013). "Comment: Manufacturing a stronger community for all". The Scotsman. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
- ^ "Thatcher remembered: The Ravenscraig leader Tommy Brennan". STV News. 17 April 2013. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
- ^ "Independence 'right choice for Scottish Labour Party'". Yes Scotland. 13 November 2012. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
- ^ a b "Tommy Brennan obituary". The Times. 4 February 2022. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
- ^ "No Headline Present". The Herald. 31 December 1991. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
- ^ Ritchie, Murray (10 January 1992). "Heavy going that makes you want to Chuck it". The Herald. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
- ^ Gray, Iain (21 May 1990). "Thatcher accused of steel betrayal". The Herald. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
- ^ Smith, Ken (18 April 2013). "Shelling out". The Herald. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
- ^ Currie, Brian (26 May 2012). "A-listers and well-wishers line up for independence". The Herald. Retrieved 17 June 2014.